Radar detector recommendations
10-09-2017, 07:54 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by Hamid
No ticket in 5 years, I go buy a radar detector and on the first day I got a ticket in my completely manual (including windows) cavalier for going 100M/H and written for 95M/H. That was in 2004 and cop was using laser.
A Cavalier doing a 100 mph? You must have your joking pants on tonight.
10-09-2017, 08:02 PM
#20
Three Wheelin'
10-09-2017, 08:12 PM
#21
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Originally Posted by JFerraro17
Lex, hope you drive as fast as you type
10-09-2017, 08:37 PM
#22
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Longtime V1 owner here. Got tired of false alarms and never updated mine. Sold it when the new 360 came out.
Huge mistake. The 360 is not good ... it adds the arrows, yes, but they don't work properly .... you will have a front arrow, pass the cop on the side of the road and there is a few second lag before it will tell you the radar is behind you. Fail. The GPS works blocking false alarms until it doesn't sometimes, or it gets confused, who knows, and it will regularly startle you with an abrupt full on alert blast that will have you stabbing for the mute button. The cord (half coiled half straight) they supply is too short to mount in a lot of cars without stretching the crap out of it, and you can't use an extension cable with it, so you'll wind up buying the long straight cable instead because, helpfully, the lighter plug is permanently attached. The stupid sticky suction cup mount will have it falling off the windshield regularly and eventually it will break. The detector's made of cheap plastic and the paint on the buttons wears off immediately. The controls are on top where you can't find them when it's mounted to change the mode or lower the volume. Save your money. It's a POS.
Do what I did ... buy the latest Valentine One plus the bluetooth dongle for it. Download the V1 Driver app to your phone. The Driver app will note via GPS where the false alarms are, and mute the V1 after a single chirp, which is not annoying at all. Works beautifully.
I can tell you that I keep the new V1 in my Ferrari and the 360 in my Macan S, drive both cars regularly and it is SO much better with the V1.
Only bad thing about the V1 is it does tend to false on laser with LED headlights, but so does the 360. The laser detection is useless, anyway, once it's alerting you're already caught.
If anyone wants to buy my 360 PM away, I'll order another V1.
Huge mistake. The 360 is not good ... it adds the arrows, yes, but they don't work properly .... you will have a front arrow, pass the cop on the side of the road and there is a few second lag before it will tell you the radar is behind you. Fail. The GPS works blocking false alarms until it doesn't sometimes, or it gets confused, who knows, and it will regularly startle you with an abrupt full on alert blast that will have you stabbing for the mute button. The cord (half coiled half straight) they supply is too short to mount in a lot of cars without stretching the crap out of it, and you can't use an extension cable with it, so you'll wind up buying the long straight cable instead because, helpfully, the lighter plug is permanently attached. The stupid sticky suction cup mount will have it falling off the windshield regularly and eventually it will break. The detector's made of cheap plastic and the paint on the buttons wears off immediately. The controls are on top where you can't find them when it's mounted to change the mode or lower the volume. Save your money. It's a POS.
Do what I did ... buy the latest Valentine One plus the bluetooth dongle for it. Download the V1 Driver app to your phone. The Driver app will note via GPS where the false alarms are, and mute the V1 after a single chirp, which is not annoying at all. Works beautifully.
I can tell you that I keep the new V1 in my Ferrari and the 360 in my Macan S, drive both cars regularly and it is SO much better with the V1.
Only bad thing about the V1 is it does tend to false on laser with LED headlights, but so does the 360. The laser detection is useless, anyway, once it's alerting you're already caught.
If anyone wants to buy my 360 PM away, I'll order another V1.
10-09-2017, 08:45 PM
#23
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10-09-2017, 08:51 PM
#24
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I've tried many radars over the last 20 years. Don't really care about brand. Just want the best, with very low falses (i.e. I hate chatty detectors).
Very recently, I just picked up an Uniden R3 based on online reviews. Seems to be wiping the floor with higher priced competitors (including Escort and V1). So far so good, but also still early for my full opinion.
Also, any time this question comes up the V1 diehards come out in force. And while it might have been the best in the past, it's gotten left behind in recent years.
Very recently, I just picked up an Uniden R3 based on online reviews. Seems to be wiping the floor with higher priced competitors (including Escort and V1). So far so good, but also still early for my full opinion.
Also, any time this question comes up the V1 diehards come out in force. And while it might have been the best in the past, it's gotten left behind in recent years.
10-09-2017, 09:11 PM
#25
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I have used detectors dating back to the early 80s, with an original Escort, one of the very first Passports, and then the V1.
The point to my post is by adding the $10 V1 Driver app and Valetine bluetooth accessory (it plugs into the lighter adapter), you can add that GPS capability to the better built and more accurate Valentine One. The app also will map where you have received alerts, telling you the band, the frequency and whether or not the app has flagged them as false alerts -- which you can unflag if you like. The app runs in the background and senses when the detector is on, no need to launch it every time you drive.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/v1dr...081009674?mt=8
As far as performance tests, the range on any of the modern detectors is more than adequate for most drivers. Both detectors give you plenty of warning on Ka band. The differences in the tests on range are really insignificant on the various Escort, Valentine and most others -- except perhaps the K40, which used to be awful.
I will say that on long highway drives the Max 360 is prone to going off constantly on K band in certain areas, either from those highway traffic sensors or other cars, while the Valentine One stays mostly silent. Both work well for Ka band, although the 360 does false on certain cars -- Acuras, etc. And I do update it when they put new firmware out.
But you really need the most recent version of the V1.
If/when they start using laser a lot in my area I would look into the ALP system, but for a windshield detector, owning both, I would recommend the V1 over the 360. A shame, because if the 360 did what it's supposed to, and they upped the quality, it would be a great product. But for $650 ... no way.
10-09-2017, 09:19 PM
#26
Rennlist Member
For those with the Uniden R3, I read a review that gave it stellar ratings overall but warned that the sticky cup mount might not work on "steeper" windshields and you might have to use the other dual-cup mount (non-sticky) that they provide. Here is a link to the review: http://www.vortexradar.com/2017/06/u...ector-is-best/
Are you having good luck with the Uniden sticky cup on 911 windshields?
Are you having good luck with the Uniden sticky cup on 911 windshields?
10-09-2017, 09:19 PM
#27
Rennlist Member
I have no experience with Uniden, but I would not call myself a V1 diehard. I bought the 360 and sold the V1 because the V1 has not been updated with the latest GPS technology, ostensibly because Escort holds the patent for it, just as Valentine had the patent for the arrows.
I have used detectors dating back to the early 80s, with an original Escort, one of the very first Passports, and then the V1.
The point to my post is by adding the $10 V1 Driver app and Valetine bluetooth accessory (it plugs into the lighter adapter), you can add that GPS capability to the better built and more accurate Valentine One. The app also will map where you have received alerts, telling you the band, the frequency and whether or not the app has flagged them as false alerts -- which you can unflag if you like.
As far as performance tests, the range on any of the modern detectors is more than adequate for most drivers. Both detectors give you plenty of warning on Ka band. The differences in the tests on range are really insignificant on the various Escort, Valentine and most others -- except perhaps the K40, which used to be awful.
I will say that on long highway drives the Max 360 is prone to going off constantly on K band in certain areas, either from those highway traffic sensors or other cars, while the Valentine One stays mostly silent. Both work well for Ka band, although the 360 does false on certain cars -- Acuras, etc. And I do update it when they put new firmware out.
But you really need the most recent version of the V1.
If/when they start using laser a lot in my area I would look into the ALP system, but for a windshield detector, owning both, I would recommend the V1 over the 360. A shame, because if the 360 did what it's supposed to, and they upped the quality, it would be a great product. But for $650 ... no way.
I have used detectors dating back to the early 80s, with an original Escort, one of the very first Passports, and then the V1.
The point to my post is by adding the $10 V1 Driver app and Valetine bluetooth accessory (it plugs into the lighter adapter), you can add that GPS capability to the better built and more accurate Valentine One. The app also will map where you have received alerts, telling you the band, the frequency and whether or not the app has flagged them as false alerts -- which you can unflag if you like.
As far as performance tests, the range on any of the modern detectors is more than adequate for most drivers. Both detectors give you plenty of warning on Ka band. The differences in the tests on range are really insignificant on the various Escort, Valentine and most others -- except perhaps the K40, which used to be awful.
I will say that on long highway drives the Max 360 is prone to going off constantly on K band in certain areas, either from those highway traffic sensors or other cars, while the Valentine One stays mostly silent. Both work well for Ka band, although the 360 does false on certain cars -- Acuras, etc. And I do update it when they put new firmware out.
But you really need the most recent version of the V1.
If/when they start using laser a lot in my area I would look into the ALP system, but for a windshield detector, owning both, I would recommend the V1 over the 360. A shame, because if the 360 did what it's supposed to, and they upped the quality, it would be a great product. But for $650 ... no way.
However I think you really got to play with it (do some add-ons) to really tune out all the falses.
Uniden seems like a decent gamble right now. But if you're not a gambler then maybe stick to the tried and true.
10-09-2017, 09:21 PM
#28
Rennlist Member
For those with the Uniden R3, I read a review that gave it stellar ratings overall but warned that the sticky cup mount might not work on "steeper" windshields and you might have to use the other dual-cup mount (non-sticky) that they provide. Here is a link to the review: http://www.vortexradar.com/2017/06/u...ector-is-best/
Are you having good luck with the Uniden sticky cup on 911 windshields?
Are you having good luck with the Uniden sticky cup on 911 windshields?
10-09-2017, 09:29 PM
#29
Nordschleife Master
I use mirror mount found on ebay - I refuse to pay the crazy blendmount prices
10-10-2017, 12:23 AM
#30
Longtime V1 owner here. Got tired of false alarms and never updated mine. Sold it when the new 360 came out.
Huge mistake. The 360 is not good ... it adds the arrows, yes, but they don't work properly .... you will have a front arrow, pass the cop on the side of the road and there is a few second lag before it will tell you the radar is behind you. Fail. The GPS works blocking false alarms until it doesn't sometimes, or it gets confused, who knows, and it will regularly startle you with an abrupt full on alert blast that will have you stabbing for the mute button. The cord (half coiled half straight) they supply is too short to mount in a lot of cars without stretching the crap out of it, and you can't use an extension cable with it, so you'll wind up buying the long straight cable instead because, helpfully, the lighter plug is permanently attached. The stupid sticky suction cup mount will have it falling off the windshield regularly and eventually it will break. The detector's made of cheap plastic and the paint on the buttons wears off immediately. The controls are on top where you can't find them when it's mounted to change the mode or lower the volume. Save your money. It's a POS.
Do what I did ... buy the latest Valentine One plus the bluetooth dongle for it. Download the V1 Driver app to your phone. The Driver app will note via GPS where the false alarms are, and mute the V1 after a single chirp, which is not annoying at all. Works beautifully.
I can tell you that I keep the new V1 in my Ferrari and the 360 in my Macan S, drive both cars regularly and it is SO much better with the V1.
Only bad thing about the V1 is it does tend to false on laser with LED headlights, but so does the 360. The laser detection is useless, anyway, once it's alerting you're already caught.
If anyone wants to buy my 360 PM away, I'll order another V1.
Huge mistake. The 360 is not good ... it adds the arrows, yes, but they don't work properly .... you will have a front arrow, pass the cop on the side of the road and there is a few second lag before it will tell you the radar is behind you. Fail. The GPS works blocking false alarms until it doesn't sometimes, or it gets confused, who knows, and it will regularly startle you with an abrupt full on alert blast that will have you stabbing for the mute button. The cord (half coiled half straight) they supply is too short to mount in a lot of cars without stretching the crap out of it, and you can't use an extension cable with it, so you'll wind up buying the long straight cable instead because, helpfully, the lighter plug is permanently attached. The stupid sticky suction cup mount will have it falling off the windshield regularly and eventually it will break. The detector's made of cheap plastic and the paint on the buttons wears off immediately. The controls are on top where you can't find them when it's mounted to change the mode or lower the volume. Save your money. It's a POS.
Do what I did ... buy the latest Valentine One plus the bluetooth dongle for it. Download the V1 Driver app to your phone. The Driver app will note via GPS where the false alarms are, and mute the V1 after a single chirp, which is not annoying at all. Works beautifully.
I can tell you that I keep the new V1 in my Ferrari and the 360 in my Macan S, drive both cars regularly and it is SO much better with the V1.
Only bad thing about the V1 is it does tend to false on laser with LED headlights, but so does the 360. The laser detection is useless, anyway, once it's alerting you're already caught.
If anyone wants to buy my 360 PM away, I'll order another V1.
I bought the 360 from BB to try it. Way to chatty, plus you cannot customize it.
I bought the V1 new, with the latest updates. But the key is
1. Buy the BT dongle
2. Use the V1 app to customize
3. Find the RD Forum posts to customize the V1 via the V1 driver app. You can put in custom sweeps, etc.
The V1 driver app tracks where alerts go off via GPS then will block them out if you hit the same spot 3 times. So for example you drive by the same gas station 3 times, the 4th time no alerts. It will false for some Infinity laser but you know right away its a false.
When I"m driving around any my V1 goes off, 99% of the time its for a LEO. Amazing, I would say 50% of local LEO's leave their radar on while driving around town.
I considered the R3 but 1) it was just coming out when I wanted to buy 2) the V1 is proven over time and has great resale if I want to sell it.
A tip: you can plug the V1 cord into the glovebox outlet with the BT dongle. Then pull the cable up the headliner. I mount mine right under the passenger visor, no hardwire needed.
good luck
Last edited by mrmojom3; 10-10-2017 at 12:24 AM. Reason: sp